Bound By Secret Ties

chapter 4

Eva's words hung in the air, the shock evident on her face. I savored the moment, allowing myself to enjoy her discomfort after all the pain she had caused me. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder as the revelation of my position at Everett Corp spread throughout the room.

Eva recovered quickly, her perfectly sculpted face morphing into a sneer. "I don't believe it for a second. There's no way someone like you could become the CEO of a company like Everett." She turned to Nigel. "What kind of game are you playing?"

Nigel's smile never wavered. "I assure you, it's no game. Aurelia has been running Everett Corp for three years now, and our profits have doubled under her leadership."

I felt a small surge of pride at his words. The journey hadn't been easy, but I had proven myself many times over.

"Impossible," Eva spat. "She was nothing when she left. A nobody, just as she's always been."

I watched as Alister stared at me, his amber eyes unreadable. Was that confusion I detected? Or perhaps disbelief that the woman he had so cruelly discarded had risen to such heights?

"That's enough, Eva," I said, my voice steady and firm. "Your opinion of me ceased to matter the day you helped destroy my marriage."

Eva's face flushed with anger. "How dare you speak to me that way? Do you forget who I am? Who my husband is?"

"I know exactly who you are," I replied, taking a step toward her. "A woman so insecure and bitter that she had to steal her stepsister's husband to feel worthy."

The crowd gasped at my boldness. I was no longer the meek Aurelia who would cower at her stepsister's words.

"You little—" Eva raised her hand to strike me, but I caught her wrist mid-air.

"Don't," I warned, my voice low. "Not here, not in front of all these people who now know exactly what kind of person you are."

I released her wrist and turned to walk away, but her voice stopped me.

"You think you're something special now because you have money? Money doesn't change what you are—an illegitimate child that no one wanted. Not even your precious Alister."

Her words were meant to wound, to bring back the pain of rejection, but they no longer held power over me. I turned slowly to face her.

"You're right about one thing, Eva. Money doesn't change who a person is at their core. That's why, despite all your wealth and status, you're still the same spiteful, jealous woman you've always been." I smiled, a genuine smile that seemed to infuriate her even more. "And that's why I pity you."

Eva's face contorted with rage. "Alister," she demanded, turning to her husband. "Are you going to let her speak to me this way?"

Alister stepped forward, his expression hard. "You've made your point, Aurelia. Leave my wife alone."

I chuckled softly. "Still defending her after all these years? Some things never change, do they?"

"I said that's enough," Alister growled, his voice sharp. But something wasn't right. His face had paled considerably, and a fine sheen of sweat had broken out on his forehead.

"Alister?" Eva's tone changed, concern replacing anger. "Are you alright?"

He blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear his vision. "I'm fine," he muttered, but his voice was weak. He took a step forward and stumbled.

I reacted instinctively, moving to catch him, but Nigel was quicker. Alister collapsed against Nigel's chest, his body going limp.

"Call an ambulance!" Nigel shouted, easing Alister to the floor.

The room erupted into chaos. Security rushed forward, guests backed away, and Eva knelt beside her husband, screaming his name. I stood frozen, watching as Alister's face grew even paler, his breathing shallow.

"What's happening to him?" Eva demanded, looking at no one in particular. "Someone help him!"

The paramedics arrived within minutes, pushing through the crowd with a stretcher. I watched as they checked his vitals, their expressions graved.

"We need to get him to the hospital immediately," one of them said, and they lifted Alister onto the stretcher.

Eva followed them, her face a mask of fear and confusion. She didn't look back at me, didn't spare me a glance as they whisked her husband away.

Nigel appeared at my side. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, though in truth, I wasn't sure what I felt. Seeing Alister collapse had stirred emotions I thought I had buried long ago.

"Do you want to leave?" Nigel asked gently.

"No," I replied. "I'm here as a representative of Everett Corp. I have a duty to fulfill."

Nigel squeezed my shoulder. "Always the professional. But if you need a moment..."

"I'm fine," I assured him, though my heart was racing. "Let's continue with the evening as planned."

The gala resumed, though the incident with Alister became the main topic of hushed conversations. I performed my duties as expected, speaking with potential investors and donors, but my mind kept drifting back to the image of Alister collapsing.

By the time I returned to my hotel room, exhaustion had settled into my bones. I removed my jewelry and dress, changed into comfortable sleepwear, and was about to call Charles when my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

The message contained a single sentence: "You should have stayed away, Aurelia."

A chill ran down my spine. There was no doubt in my mind who had sent it—Patricia Blackwell, Alister's mother. The woman who had slapped me and told me I never belonged in their family.

I was tempted to delete the message, to ignore it as I had done with all the reminders of my past life in this city. But something stopped me. A sense that this was just the beginning, that Patricia's message contained more than just a veiled threat.

Before I could dwell on it further, my phone rang. It was Nigel.

"Aurelia," he said without preamble. "I just got word from the hospital."

My heart skipped a beat. "Is it Alister?"

"Yes." Nigel's voice was solemn. "It doesn't look good. They're running tests, but the doctors are concerned. They think it might be serious."

I sat on the edge of the bed, my mind racing. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because," Nigel hesitated, "regardless of your history, I thought you should know. And... there's something else."

"What is it?"

"Jameson Caldwell was asking about you. He's at the hospital with Alister and Eva. He seemed... particularly interested in the fact that you were at the gala tonight."

Jameson. Alister's step-brother. I hadn't thought about him in years.

"Thank you for letting me know," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Aurelia..." Nigel began, then stopped. "Just be careful. The Blackwells are powerful people, and they don't take kindly to perceived threats."

After ending the call, I stared at my phone, at the threatening message from Patricia. Perhaps coming back to this city had been a mistake after all. But it was too late for regrets now. I was here, and somehow, I was once again entangled in the web of the Blackwell family.

I called Charles, needing to hear his voice, to remind myself of what truly mattered. As I listened to him chattering about his day, I made a silent promise to myself: this time, I wouldn't let the Blackwells break me. This time, I was stronger.

But as I drifted off to sleep, Alister's pale face haunted my dreams, and Patricia's message echoed in my mind. You should have stayed away, Aurelia.

Perhaps she was right. But it was too late now. I was back, and this time, I wasn't running away.